noise and anti-social behaviour

What is noise nuisance?

Noise nuisance is unreasonable sound that affects others. The council have a duty to investigate noise complaints and to take action if a noise is found to be a statutory noise nuisance. The following are guidelines lifted from the council website.

Noise problems that the council can deal with

  • loud music and parties or entertainment venues

  • noise from construction works

  • plant or equipment noise

  • alarms

  • animal noise, such as regular and prolonged dog barking

Dealing with your noise problem

  1. The council recommend trying to talk to the person who is causing the noise affecting you, in the first instance. They might not even know there is a problem and may be willing to try to address the issue. If you feel unable to do this, read the Noise Action Guidance (PDF file).

  2. If the noise is coming from a rented property, contact the landlord. Most tenancies state that residents must not cause a disturbance to neighbours. This means the landlord can act. If the noise is coming from a Council or Housing Association property, you should contact your housing or tenancy officer.

  3. If you report a noise problem to the council, unless it is a construction or alarm noise problem, they ask you to log six incidents on different days so that we can better understand the nature of the problem and how to investigate it, including the times that we are most likely to be able to witness the noise. An advisory letter is sent to the address or location that is the source of the problem when you report the first incident. If the problem continues, a noise case will be raised after you report the sixth incident and one of our noise officers will contact to commence an investigation.

For more information go here www.walthamforest.gov.uk/noise-and-anti-social-behaviour/report-noise-nuisance